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Boost for budding journalists
By Christopher O'Leary
JOHN Henningham left his university post nine years ago to open a world-class journalism school.
The move paid dividends last month when Professor Henningham announced his organisation, JSchool, received FEE-HELP registration from the Federal Government.
He hopes to attract an additional 15 students to study this year as they could choose to study at JSchool and have their fees deferred.
But the former UQ professor and journalist for The Australian said he intended to maintain the intimate feel of the school.
“We want to keep the small feel of the course,” he said. “Students have weekly one-to-one meetings with staff. They also can receive other personal assistance from staff.”
Professor Henningham said the school’s Diploma o f Journalism provided students with the best training to survive in the media and succeed.
He said many university courses did not teach students enough practical skills to prepare them for newsrooms.
“We could see there was a better way of preparing journalists by taking the best from cadetships and the university system,” he said.
“Students learn by doing. They go to court, council meetings and Parliament House, and they learn on the job.”
He said many graduates were now working at The Courier-Mail, News.com.au, The Gold Coast Bulletin, and the Sydney Morning Herald.